These guys have been working on the roof across the street every day. I feel like I have an audience, and I have to make sure to dress and sit properly. The guy in the middle knows I’m taking their picture, right?

Today, I went out to the Nassau County Police Department to research cold cases on LI, and just as I walked in the squad room a call came in about the body of a young woman who had been found. The room came to life. It had a weird, 9/11-like thrill of purpose. This is what we’re here for. While I was researching a 48-year-old murder case, a new case had begun. They don’t even know who she is yet. I’m sorry unknown girl. You were gypped.

I like the commanding officer of the Homicide Squad, Dennis Farrell. It’s too bad he’s retiring tomorrow and I’ll never see him again. But they were looking at a map and I asked if they were aware of MapQuest, and he looks at me like, “Hello? Do you think we’re idiots, Miss Smartypants?” But he said, “Yeah. We know about MapQuest and Google Maps,” and explained why at that moment they were checking a map. He was funny about it. It’s nice when someone with a sense of humor is in charge.